December 20 2009 3 night Wonder

[ShastaDog]

I believe we are staying at the Caribbean Beach for the 4 land/3 night package. Before the package, we are staying at a outside Disney resort for a few days, then we will be doing the package, and then staying at Disney (either at on site or off site) after the package. The only thing booked so far is the resort before and the package. Still trying to find the best airfare, deciding on the transportation whether to rent a car and for how long and also deciding where to stay after the cruise. . Way too much planning. I welcome any suggestions.

We are staying at the Carribean Beach before the cruise as well. As far as planning, I would suggest looking at Airtran for tickets (out of SFO). They seem to run cheaper than SJC flights, if you can drive it. However, they have not published their December flights yet. Only up to November at this point. We are renting a car, as we might run to SeaWorld one day, and I want to keep the cruise a secret as long as possible. We will probably take the bus to the airport though after the cruise, since we are going home for Christmas. This is going to be so much fun!!

Jennifer

 

[asmdisney719]

We are staying at the Carribean Beach before the cruise as well. As far as planning, I would suggest looking at Airtran for tickets (out of SFO). They seem to run cheaper than SJC flights, if you can drive it. However, they have not published their December flights yet. Only up to November at this point. We are renting a car, as we might run to SeaWorld one day, and I want to keep the cruise a secret as long as possible. We will probably take the bus to the airport though after the cruise, since we are going home for Christmas. This is going to be so much fun!!

Jennifer

Thanks for the suggestion. I will keep an eye out at Airtran. We will probably rent a car for the whole time. It is probably cheaper than just renting for part of the period, since we will probably use it before and after the cruise. This will be so fun, but I cannot relax yet until I have made all the final arrangements. I will need a vacation then.

 

[Ware Bears]

Can you believe that yesterday (Friday) it was showing as 9 months to go to our cruise on my ticker and I didn't even notice?!!

Although DH has chosen the cruise to celebrate his 50th birthday (his birthday was last month, the poor guy has to wait quite a while for his present ) I am definitely the most excited one in our family.

What are you guys most looking forward to about the cruise? I am looking forward to just about everything but especially Castaway Cay. We are great POTC fans in our house and I can't wait to see the Flying Dutchman.

 

[Charleyann]

Can you believe that yesterday (Friday) it was showing as 9 months to go to our cruise on my ticker and I didn't even notice?!!

Although DH has chosen the cruise to celebrate his 50th birthday (his birthday was last month, the poor guy has to wait quite a while for his present ) I am definitely the most excited one in our family.

What are you guys most looking forward to about the cruise? I am looking forward to just about everything but especially Castaway Cay. We are great POTC fans in our house and I can't wait to see the Flying Dutchman.

Sounds like a good, hard labor! I am looking forward to Paradise Island, Atlantis waterpark. We are renting a room from comfort suites. You get four admission to the waterpark . Much cheaper then buying four passes from the ship.
Also, can't wait to relax on the private Island, Castaway Cay with warm water, warm breezes, turquoise waters and snow falling! Please, all I want is a tropical drink and inner tube!!!!

Cheers to you!

Charleyann

 

[Charleyann]

Hi everybody! This is my first post, so bear with me.

My daughter and I will be taking this cruise as a surprise for her birthday. This will be our 5th trip to the park, but our first time cruising. We are going to spend a couple days at the park, get the b-day fast pass for her actual b-day, then take the cruise. I think she suspects that we are going to WDW for her b-day, as we have talked about the promotion, but I'm not going to tell her about the cruise until we get to Port Canaveral.

I have to say that I love the DISboards! I have been so impressed with the amount of information and the willingness of everybody to share what they have experienced. I am a major fanatic when it comes to pre-planning, so this has been awesome for me to find out what everybody else has to say before I make out my little spreadsheets.

Jennifer

Is this just you and your daughter? My Friend and I are taking just our sons and us. Same age as your daughter. We all seem to have kids the same age.....

Hope we can all meet!!!!

Charleyann

 

[Ware Bears]

I am looking forward to Paradise Island, Atlantis waterpark. We are renting a room from comfort suites. You get four admission to the waterpark . Much cheaper then buying four passes from the ship.

Ooh yes, much cheaper. We are not sure what we are doing on Nassau day yet. We may go to visit Atlantis just to have a look, if so we'll make our own way there as again it's much cheaper than the Disney excursion.

Also, can't wait to relax on the private Island, Castaway Cay with warm water, warm breezes, turquoise waters and snow falling! Please, all I want is a tropical drink and inner tube!!!!

I want to be there NOW!! We've been having beautiful weather the last week and today it's turned cold again!

Hope we can all meet!!!!

I hope so too!

 

[asmdisney719]

Sounds like a good, hard labor! I am looking forward to Paradise Island, Atlantis waterpark. We are renting a room from comfort suites. You get four admission to the waterpark . Much cheaper then buying four passes from the ship.
Also, can't wait to relax on the private Island, Castaway Cay with warm water, warm breezes, turquoise waters and snow falling! Please, all I want is a tropical drink and inner tube!!!!

Cheers to you!

Charleyann

We have never been on a Disney Cruise so all of this is new to me. What is this about the passes? Can you give me some info like what it exactly is and how much is it? It sounds interesting.

 

[nibbo]

Just want to say Hi to the new posters on here and apologize for not saying welcome earlier.
It looks like there will be a few birthdays being celebrated on this cruise... what a wonderful way to spend a birthday, especially as it will be a surprise.
Our 2 DD's still do not know anything about the cruise, as far as they know is that we are staying in a hotel by the beach near Kennedy Space centre for a few days, can't wait to see their faces.
Still completely stumped for what to do on Christmas Day. Think we might just wait until the day and make our minds up then. Spend the day by the pool if it's a nice warm day and venture to the parks later in the evening to catch the fireworks. We're intending to make this holiday a bit more relaxed than our previous ones and visit some of the places we haven't been to before between Christmas Day and New Year. Cypress Gardens, Gatorland, do a river boat ride.... things like that, hopefully they won't be as busy as the main parks.
It's now 11 months since we booked, so like Ware Bears, it's nice to see the ticker getting a bit closer. I don't want to wish away what little summer we have over here in the UK but I hope December hurries up... I need my fix of Disney and Florida soon!!

 

[Charleyann]

We have never been on a Disney Cruise so all of this is new to me. What is this about the passes? Can you give me some info like what it exactly is and how much is it? It sounds interesting.

the price to buy these passes off the cruiseline is $169 per person. If you book a room a comfort suites, your passes are included. It is often cheaper for a party of four to book the room. The price depends on the time of year. At Christmas it is around $300. Divide that by 4 people and subtract from $169 (price of Passes) and you'll see the difference. We basically get two passes free...

With the room. You checkin and checkout the same time...

Hope this helps!

Charleyann

 

[Charleyann]

Ok....I am staying extra days before our Land and
Sea package starts with Disney. We will be at Disney 8 days before we sail. Before that is a 7 day Western cruise with Carnival.

I have a room booked with 40% off until Christmas Day and then Holiday rates kicks in at $219 plus tax.

I just found out , I could fly to Nassau from Orlando for just $59! I found a beautiful resort for around $100 nightly in Nassau. I'd love to spent Christmas in the Bahamas....

I have done Disney twice at Christmas. Also just after Christmas too.

I can fly home from Nassau for just $20 more then flying out of Orlando. Gosh, the beach or the crazy hustle and bustle of Disney?????

Charleyann

 

[ShastaDog]

Is this just you and your daughter? My Friend and I are taking just our sons and us. Same age as your daughter. We all seem to have kids the same age.....

Hope we can all meet!!!!

Charleyann

I have a friend with three daughters (15, 13, 5) that we will be meeting up with in the park before the the cruise. They might be coming with us on the boat, but they just moved down to FL and haven't gotten their tickets for the cruise yet. Nothing like waiting for the government to reimburse your moving expenses!

I do think it's cool that there seem to be a lot of 13 years olds in this thread. I'm hoping we can meet as well! My daughter makes friends pretty easily, but it might be nice to have someone to introduce her to initially.

Is anyone else thinking of signing their teen up for The Wild Side program?

 

[nibbo]

I do think it's cool that there seem to be a lot of 13 years olds in this thread. I'm hoping we can meet as well! My daughter makes friends pretty easily, but it might be nice to have someone to introduce her to initially.

Our DD's will be 12 and 14 so hopefully there will be plenty of other teens to 'hang about' with on the ship instead of their 'uncool' parents.

Is anyone else thinking of signing their teen up for The Wild Side program?

What is the Wild Side program?

 

[ShastaDog]

What is the Wild Side program?[/QUOTE]

It is one of the shore excursions on Castaway Cay. According to the DCL website it says "The Wild Side - Snorkel, kayak and take a scenic bike ride amidst a tropical island paradise as you indulge in a thrilling tour of the island — perfect for the teen in your family." Basically, I think they take all the teens over to the Teen Beach for activities in the morning and then point them towards lunch. Thought I might get in a massage while she was off doing that with the other kids...

Only wanted to ask since she will be just 13 and I wondered if anybody knew how the ages in these kind of groups break down. Don't want her to be the only young one in a group of 17 year olds. I might check some other threads out on this as well.

 

[Ware Bears]

Ok....I am staying extra days before our Land and
Sea package starts with Disney. We will be at Disney 8 days before we sail. Before that is a 7 day Western cruise with Carnival.

I have a room booked with 40% off until Christmas Day and then Holiday rates kicks in at $219 plus tax.

I just found out , I could fly to Nassau from Orlando for just $59! I found a beautiful resort for around $100 nightly in Nassau. I'd love to spent Christmas in the Bahamas....

I have done Disney twice at Christmas. Also just after Christmas too.

I can fly home from Nassau for just $20 more then flying out of Orlando. Gosh, the beach or the crazy hustle and bustle of Disney?????

Charleyann

Charleyann, I think seeing as you have already done Disney at Christmas this is simply too good a chance to miss. It sounds like absolute heaven!

 

[Ware Bears]

Is anyone else thinking of signing their teen up for The Wild Side program?


Only wanted to ask since she will be just 13 and I wondered if anybody knew how the ages in these kind of groups break down. Don't want her to be the only young one in a group of 17 year olds. I might check some other threads out on this as well.

That's a very good point.

I asked my DDs if they were interested in it but they seemed a bit reluctant to tie themselves down to 4 hours. I'll ask them again nearer the time but I think we may just do the Getaway Package as then we can do things at our own leisure.

 

[ShastaDog]

Charleyann, I think seeing as you have already done Disney at Christmas this is simply too good a chance to miss. It sounds like absolute heaven!

I totally agree. Since you will be at WDW before the cruise, you will have the chance to do all the Christmasy stuff. We haven't been before, so we are definitely getting tickets for Mickey's VMCP and doing the dinner package for the Candlelight Processional. But the Bahamas for Christmas. How awesome is that. I say go for it!!

Jennifer

 

[asmdisney719]

I do think it's cool that there seem to be a lot of 13 years olds in this thread. I'm hoping we can meet as well! My daughter makes friends pretty easily, but it might be nice to have someone to introduce her to initially.

Is anyone else thinking of signing their teen up for The Wild Side program?

My 13 year old daughter would love to meet new friends. Maybe we could plan a meeting place for all the 13 year olds to meet...

What is the Wild Side program? I am new to the Disney cruise, so I am open to all suggestions.

 

[Ware Bears]

What is the Wild Side program? I am new to the Disney cruise, so I am open to all suggestions.

What is the Wild Side program?

It is one of the shore excursions on Castaway Cay. According to the DCL website it says "The Wild Side - Snorkel, kayak and take a scenic bike ride amidst a tropical island paradise as you indulge in a thrilling tour of the island — perfect for the teen in your family." Basically, I think they take all the teens over to the Teen Beach for activities in the morning and then point them towards lunch.

And here's a link from DCL site here.

My 13 year old daughter would love to meet new friends. Maybe we could plan a meeting place for all the 13 year olds to meet...

Great idea.

In fact, perhaps we could all meet up to say hello to each other? Perhaps on the first afternoon?

 

[ShastaDog]

Hey everybody! Just got back from a quick Spring Break trip to Florida. We were in Jacksonville visiting with friends, so of course we had to run down to Orlando! Disney was sooo crowded. We avoided the parks (though it killed me!) and just went to the Polynesian for Tonga Toast (yum!) and to Downtown Disney for some shopping. We spent a day at Seaworld as well. It rained, but the girls didn't mind since the first thing they rode was Journey to Atlantis and then they got splashed feeding the dolphins. It was fun.

I am definitely up for meeting that first afternoon. We were going to try and get there early so we would have time to explore the ship and maybe hit the pool. Any ideas on where would be a good spot?

 

[asmdisney719]

Great idea.

In fact, perhaps we could all meet up to say hello to each other? Perhaps on the first afternoon?

I am definitely up for meeting that first afternoon. We were going to try and get there early so we would have time to explore the ship and maybe hit the pool. Any ideas on where would be a good spot?

Sorry, I have been busy lately and haven't really check the boards. We would love to meet you guys that first afternoon. Just say the time and place and we'll be there.